The East Hampton School Board voted to name the high school pool the John J. Ryan Sr. Aquatic Center at its final meeting of the academic year on Tuesday, and Mr. Ryan’s final meeting as a board member.
Mr. Ryan, 91 — a.k.a. Big John — has served on the school board for a combined 28 years. He was first elected in 1993 and served until 2011, then was elected again in 2016 and served until the end of this school year. He lost a re-election bid last month by just 26 votes, on the same night that voters approved a $45.68 million bond proposition to fund an indoor pool with a diving board. The pool naming will cement his place in East Hampton history.
“Nothing made more sense. This is a man who has preached about water safety and waterproofing the East End, talked about swimming and the ocean nonstop. We love it, and we got the pool, and his name should be on it,” said Adam Fine, the district superintendent.
The board meeting was one of the most heavily attended this year, with members of the high school orchestra playing for the crowd as they took their seats. Dozens of Mr. Ryan’s family members were in the audience for the announcement, which was a surprise for most of them.
“He’s worked long and hard since I was 14, volunteering his time to train people to make them successful lifeguards. And that was the beginning of it,” said John Ryan Jr. “He got back on the board — because this is important — just like bike safety and D.A.R.E. and all of those other programs, so is water safety.”
At the meeting, Mr. Ryan Sr. thanked his family and the community.
“I am so proud of what this school is. And why is it what it is? Because of the wonderful support we get from the teachers, students, parents, this board, and this administration,” he said. “I am fully comfortable stepping aside. Ms. Sarris Royal will be great.”
Kimberly Sarris Royal, a newcomer, will join the board on July 1. She and Emily Agnello, an incumbent, won the election for two open board seats on May 19. Ms. Sarris Royal was in the audience Tuesday night for of Mr. Ryan.
“I couldn’t think of anybody more fitting to have the pool named after them. John has put so much into this school district and swimming,” said J.P. Foster, the school board president. “I thank him for his service. It’s been quite a ride with John. He makes things interesting, keeps us on our toes, and we’ll miss him a tremendous amount.”
Along with the pool, last month district voters also approved a $63.96 million bond for district-wide structural and safety upgrades, and an $18.535 million bond for an indoor athletic space with a basketball court and indoor turf field that will be attached to the aquatic center.
Mr. Ryan Sr. was pleased that all three bonds passed. “I can’t think of a better thing this community can have than a good pool,” he said. Famous for closing the board meeting with the expression, “I move, we move,” he closed the meeting one last time, before walking over to a cake with the same expression written on top.
“There is no other person that has consistently been an advocate for our students, the community, and staff members. Never has John wavered from those tenets. He’s believed them, advocated them, and he’s been consistent,” Mr. Fine said. “Those things he holds near and dear to him have never wavered. And it’s a testament to his dedication and commitment to East Hampton.”
At the meeting, the board recognized several other retirees, including Kathy Masterson, the district’s athletic director, who announced her retirement in March. That afternoon, the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance notified the district that Ms. Masterson had been awarded the Suffolk Zone Physical Education Director Award. She’ll be recognized at the Suffolk Zone conference next fall.
“Kathy Masterson is a force of nature. In four short years she has resurrected the Bonac athletic program. Through hard work, building relationships, and inspiring our student-athletes, she has transformed our programs,” Mr. Fine said.
The board also thanked Stella Brecker for her service as the district’s first ever ex officio student board member.
“You were outstanding from day one — your conversations, your interest, your reports,” Mr. Fine said.
“It’s been really wonderful having a student voice at the board of ed,” said Sarah Minardi, one of the board’s vice presidents. “So, thank you Stella.”
Stella will be attending New York University this fall and joked that she’ll be taking her board of education nameplate to put by her bed.
“I thought it was such a great experience. I never thought I’d be able to do something like this and have a voice and a platform like this to speak out for my classmates and peers,” she said. “It’s definitely something I’ve had a lot of fun doing. Everyone has been so welcoming.”
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Note: This article has been updated since it first appeared online.